BRUNSWICK, Maine - Bowdoin's Jessie Small scored the game-winning goal with less than 13 minutes remaining to give the host Polar Bears a 4-3 win over visiting Amherst in both teams' season-openers on Saturday afternoon. The Polar Bears, who received a pair of goals from Katie Herter in the win, are ranked 11th in the latest national poll while Amherst stands 16th.

The teams traded goals in the early going, as Herter cracked a shot from the top of the circle to give the Polar Bears a 1-0 lead just 2:26 into the contest. Moments later, on Amherst's first push downfield, Liz Schink centered a pass to Carly Dudzik, who slapped home a one-timer to knot the game at 6:39.

Bowdoin took control with a pair of goals around halftime, as Herter scored her second tally with a tip in front before intermission, and Elizabeth Clegg knocked home a loose ball in front just after halftime to give the hosts a 3-1 advantage.

Amherst stormed back with pair of goals in a five-minute span midway through the period. Alex Philie buried a one-time chance to cut the lead to 3-2 at 49:18 before Dudzik tallied her second goal of the contest on a hard shot from the top at 54:10 to tie the game.

Small scored the game-winner after taking a pass from Clegg. The senior forward's initial shot bounced off the pads of netminder Claudia Easton before Small pounced on the rebound to Bowdoin ahead. A late Amherst rally fell short, as the Jeffs could not convert on a penalty corner with time expiring.

Claudia Easton made four saves and allowed four goals for Amherst before being replaced by Sarah Wise, who did not make a save or allow a goal in 12 minutes of play. Kayla Lessard stopped three shots in net for Bowdoin.

Photos courtesy of Brian Beard and Creative Images Photography